Riding Amtrak's Downeaster | Boston, MA - Brunswick, ME | Coach Class

Welcome to another video! In late June 2022, I took a ride aboard Amtrak's Downeaster Service from Boston, Massachusetts to Brunswick, Maine. This route is rather unique as it is seperated from the rest of Amtrak's system since it departs from Boston's North Station. Come along with me for this three hour ride as we travel onboard Northbound Amtrak Downeaster Train 681, The first of 5 daily departures from Boston, MA to Brunswick, ME!
Enjoy the video!
Railroad: Amtrak
Train: Downeaster (681) | Boston North Station to Brunswick, ME
Class: Coach
Fare: $25
Date: June 17th 2022
Music: Epidemic Sound
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[@jennysjourney02]

Great and informative video. Looking to take this train in October and this helps with my research. I've never been to this part of the country, the towns the trains goes through look really cute. Would love to explore them. Glad this is an alternative to driving.

[@svsagittaire]

Lovely video. Thanks.

[@jennifercuddy5663]

This is awesome!

[@joannlawery4258]

Thanks for this idea. God willing will be in Boston next week. Hadn't been to Portland, Maine in several years. Didn't know Amtrak left from North Station but it makes sense

[@alexanderschaefer2898]

Great video, very informative. I am taking the down easter for the first time in October.

[@JamesMartinBass]

This was a great video. I really enjoyed your low-key format, with text rather than talking. I'm considering taking this train from Boston to Brunswick and driving back, so I get to check out both experiences.

[@WDKimball]

I regularly ride the Downeaster to Boston. I highly recommend it. 🦞

[@Chris_at_Home]

I lived in Maine in the early 1970s. I was told Down East is the last few counties before New Brunswick , Canada, basically east of Arcadia. It would have been nice to have a train to Brunswick back then because I was stationed there and traveled home to Ct a lot by hitchhiking.

[@newenglandskier13]

Nice video! The Downeaster is my local Amtrak service. It’s worth noting that it actually doesn’t go anywhere close to the “Downeast” region of Maine, so the name choice really isn’t the best.

[@joesuriner8851]

I thought it was called the downeaster because the the similar named noreaster when we have a crazy winter storm.

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

@joesuriner8851 honestly from what I can figure out. Downeast is the northern most coastal area of Maine. Which if you look on a map is still the south half of the state. So for most of the state that lubec/Eastport mainr coastal area is "down east" hence the name downeast.

[@ganapatihegde1024]

Nice vlog! Great presentation. I am a new subscriber to your channel. Greetings from Plano, Texas, United States.

[@reestyfarts]

The Pacific Surfliner reference is the funniest thing I have read in a long while.

[@WanderingWoods2023]

Thanks for the video, this helped with the planning of our day trip to Brunswick I think I’ll upgrade to business class - just for the fun of it

[@scrappytracy5557]

Hoping to do this route this summer!

[@mah6183]

The reverse reminds me of when they changed from electric to diesel at New Haven.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this great video ! I have travelled on the Downeaster several years ago before the service was extended to Brunswick. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and thought the cafe /car and business seats were excellent. Will you be sampling the Maple Leaf to Toronto this year ?

[@lindawheeler3242]

Now I want to travel to maine!

[@richardi-cn1iv]

Wish I had Amtrak then! Had to go from Philadelphia to Brunswick for a conference. I flew into Logan and then a bus to Brunswick W

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video

[@alistairwade258]

Thinking of this option for next vacation. Pick up a hire car in Portland rather than downtown Boston or the airport. To Dan - we did Vancouver - Seattle - Portland by Amtrak in 2019. Would be good to see your review of that line

[@markpowell1211]

Off to Brunswick on the downeaster next month from UK, any tips on what to do ?

[@cynthiabend6785]

Wish it went to Rockland.

[@davemoulton2971]

There is a proposal for that in very near future.

[@enjoyslearningandtravel7957]

Thanks for making a great video! I have a few questions please. I did take this train for the first time in 2021 just from Boston to Portland Maine and of course I noticed that it didn’t go directly to near downtown Maine it went to the transport Center where I had to catch a bus to Portland since I didn’t have someone to pick me up. Which was not a problem but if I was arriving in Portland at night or arriving in bad weather might’ve caused more of a problem but as it was there was a bus center open for my questions. My question; Which towns in New Hampshire and Maine go directly into the city or town since if I explore other towns and possibly stay in a B&B or hotel I would walk instead of rent a car or another method. Also if it goes into a relatively safe part of town such as I did go into Freeport Maine by bus and I saw where the train stop was and it was very convenient for walkers. If I took the train to Brunswick, Maine does it go directly to where I can walk to town or is it more complicated? Also some other pretty towns in New Hampshire is it easy to walk to from the train station? Thanks for the information !

[@gabytheonedd2695]

The station in Brunswick is right in town across the street from Bowdoin College and right off Maine Street where all the little stores and restaurants are. There are a few places to stay right in town. However, you might need to take a taxi if you are looking to stay at a chain hotel such as on the other side of Brunswick where the chain hotels, stores, and restaurants are located. That side of Brunswick is called Cook's Corner and it's too far to be walkable from the train station because it is a little separated from downtown due to the fact there used to be Brunswick Naval Air Station on the land between the two areas. The base has closed and the building on the base are now used for office space, etc. But it creates a kind of gap between the two areas. Brunswick Taxi is fairly good as taxi companies go and they can get you over to Cook's Corner for a just few bucks.

[@jacksonhaskellmaine]

Brunswick, Freeport, Old Orchard Beach, Dover, Durham (right at the university) are all great stops that are real close to downtown/ city centers. And of course, Boston.

[@appalachianenthusiast9499]

If Amtrak ever wanted to electrify the Downeaster, here's an idea for them. Add a small transfer track to take trains from the Lowell Line to the Green Line somewhere near Gilman Square. Make all cars, including the leading locomotive, small enough to fit in the subway tunnel. Amtrak can continue to stop at Boston North. From there, I do not know if there is a transfer track between the Green and Orange Lines. If there is, use it. If not, create one. Depending on Amtrak's mood, they can add an additional stop at State St. or Chinatown or some place like that. If they don't want to though, they could simply continue into its new terminus at Back Bay.

[@davidrivera9743]

I take this trip occasionally.

[@sammy7068]

hello nice video. are they accepting cash in cafe cars or do u still need to use credit cards?

[@newenglandskier13]

Cash payments have always been allowed on the Downeaster.

[@jimmydcap]

I want to go up n back from Boston. Then bus back to Nashua NH.

[@rosanabelizaire7347]

A trip to Maine is ok

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

It's a fun day trip from Boston!

[@mah6183]

Did you happen to see any bicycles on the train? I hear that they are now allowed.

[@Cyclalex]

This is a good question. I would like to know this too.

[@ganapatihegde1024]

Can you please do a trip on Cardinal Express?

[@danielulz1640]

Why can't they use the original main line station instead of the spur station that requires reversing to rejoin the main line?

[@donnamorton1611]

I believe the original Portland Union Station was demolished when passenger service ended there in the early 60’s, they would have to build a new station at the former location if they wanted to resume service at that site (which they have proposed)

[@danielulz1640]

@@donnamorton1611 thank you for the explanation. Such farsightedness and pre-planning on the part of whomever OK'ed the demolition!

[@downeasterailfan]

Was this August 3rd?

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

No, This was in July.

[@user-jj1uy5qg6n]

Just how do you film a long traim trip Bring it all down to just minutes I do not how to do that

[@marcafterdark1003]

How far is the Boston Museum of Science from the train station?

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Not far at all! It is one stop away on the MBTA Green Line.

[@stephenflanders2190]

This Amtrack service would be nice if they can get it from Concord New Hampshire down to. Boston I know they are working on it we had the. New. Hampshire Railrod Revitalizarion an Advocacy group to work on Rail for. New. Hampshire but the state didn’t,t want rail this was back in the nineties so they let the rail be ripped up from Concord up to White River J c t now there is no connection to. Canada from. Boston and it is designated a. High Speed. Rail corridor signed by then president. Clinton it is a transportation. Route corridor the old. Northern line it’s a shame we can,t have more rail in. New. Hampshire sincerely Stephen F. Flanders

[@benx2230]

Brunswick is not Down East. But don't expect anyone at Amtrak to know anything about US geography.

[@user-jj1uy5qg6n]

I use to like Portland Maine But I not care for the city now I do not like the way that they treated M S Scotia Prince I do not like the way that they treatedd the Cat Ferry